WEEKEND WRAP: Petes putting on better defensive performance

Peterborough This Week

(PETERBOROUGH) Jody Hull is willing to give credit where credit is do.
Although he felt his team lacked energy at times in a 2-1 loss at the hands of the Brampton Battalion on Sunday (Jan. 20), it was more the stingy defence of the Battalion that bogged the Peterborough Petes down than tired legs after a hard fought 5-4 win against the Niagara IceDogs on Saturday (Jan. 20) night.
“They play a very structured game and it takes your momentum away,” says interim bench boss Hull.
“That came in to play more than the legs.”
The Petes managed just 15 shots in the road loss, as they failed to gain ground on the Kingston Frontenacs who hold down the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with 43 points, 10 points better then the Petes. Eric Cornel scored the lone goal for the Petes in the defeat, while Michael Giugovaz was solid between the pipes in his hometown, making 24 saves in a losing cause.
For Cornel, it was just his third goal of the season, but Hull sees a more confident rookie out on the ice since the Christmas break.
“He’s been skating well and he’s a guy that really buys in to what you’re saying and want from him,” Hull says.
Cornel’s sound play has earned him more minutes, seeing time on the power play and more minutes with different linemates on the team’s top lines. The fact that players are buying in has allowed Hull to distribute ice accordingly with third and fourth line players seeing between seven and nine minutes and no forward seeing more than 25 minutes since he’s taken over on the bench.
“The only way to reward them is to give them more opportunities,” Hull says.
“It gives your so called better players more energy for a longer period of time, so in a third period when it matters or you are down they have that same energy to go out and perform.”
Hull’s go-to guys were on top of their game on Saturday. The line of Jonatan Tanus, Brett Findlay and Nick Czinder combined for eight points. Each had a goal, while Tanus and Findlay picked up a pair of helpers.
“They’re all contributing with points but they’re also playing pretty sound defensive hockey,” Hull says about the trio.
“Guys are playing at a level where the organization thought they would be earlier, so it is nice to see. If they want to keep playing and getting minutes, they have to show me when they’re out there that they’re willing to do what it takes.”
Brandon Devlin and Derek Mathers also scored in Saturday’s victory versus Niagara, while Andrew D’Agostini made 40 saves for the win. The Petes host the Belleville Bulls on Thursday (Jan. 24), before hitting the road to take on the Barrie Colts on Saturday (Jan. 26).
tvandonk@mykawartha.com